Stoking mechanism for furnaces.



W. McCLAVE. STOKING MECHANISM FOR FURNACES. APPLICATION FILED mm 22.3913.

1,165,792.. Pat-elm Dec. 28, 1915.

El wuawto'a "WILLIAM IIICCLAVE, OF SCRAN'ION, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TOIVfcCLAVE-BRQOKS 'JQMPANY, OF SCRANTON, PENNSYLVANIA,

STORING MECHANIS A conroa'arion or rnnnsrnvania. i

M roe ronnaons. l l

i,- W Lino,

Application filed March 22,

To all arr/20m it may concern:

Be it known that l, lViLLLut McC AvE, a citizen of the United States,and resident cf Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State ofPennsylvania, have invented oer tam new and useful Improvements inStoking Mechanism for Furnaces; and I do hereby declare the following tobe a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being hadto the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and tothe figures and letters of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates to mechanism for feeding distributing andhandling the fuel, usually grades of more or less comminuted coal, theobjects of the invention being to provideapparatus which will besemi-automatic in operation and with which the fuel will be distributedin a manner best calculated to promote combustion and pre vent theescape or discharge of any of the solid particles capable of beingconsumed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a. structure in whichthe fuel on the supporting surface of the grate is readily accessiblefor being broken up or handled by bars or instruments in the hands ofthe firemen without disturbing the relationship or operation of theautomatic portions of the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure in which theautomatic fuel feeding mechanism may be operated with a minimum of powerand with mechanical appliances of exceedingly simple character, thewhole arrangement being so designed as to materially reduce the cost ofmanufacture and at the same time permit of the operation of the stokingmechanism by ordinary unskilled labor so as to obtain a maximumefficiency.

Referring to the accompanying drawings-Figure 1 is a sectional elevationof a portion er a steam boiler furnace embodyinga stoking mechanismconstructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a.detail view showing the preferred construction of the apron angle platemounted in the wall at the rear end of the grate. and with which therocking section cooperates.

Like letters of reference in the figures ind cate the same parts.

The stoking mechanism of the present inlention- 1s shown nconnection\Vloil a fur- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented i258, i915.

1913. Serial No. 756,19".

nace in which the combustion c lumber pro- ]ects in front of the forwardend of the boiler with a secondary Zcombusticn'chamber immediately inrear thereof andbeneath the forward end of the boiler, communicationwith the main combustion chamber being through a suitable opening in anintermediatewall i i. The top of the combustion chamber in theparticular furnace adopted for illustrating the invention isconveniently 1n the form of an arch E having passages b therethrough forsupplying heated air, but it will be understood. that in so far as thepresent invention is concerned the particw lar construction of thecombustion chai-nber,

aside from the parts immediately associated with the stoking mechanismand to be now described, may be varied indefinitely and made to accordwith any :known approved or desired practice.

The fuel supporting surface or, rate" proper is referably composed offixed grate bars C inclined inwardly'and supported at their ends bytransverse bearer-bars D and D. Each grate bar has bolted thereto,separate grate sections 0 provided-with hori-' zontallv extendingshelf-like 1 fuel supporting ledges c, the end faces; of which" conformto the inclination of the grate bars. At their rearlower ends the-gratebars are formed to interlock with the bearer bar D" and at their forwardends they extend through openings in a downwardlyv extending flange (Zof the bearer ibar D and are retained by transverse pins or similarfastening devices as shown. This'type of grate, while preferred, it isobvious may be varied considerably and other known types substitutedtherefor either having fixedwbars or movable bars as in known practice,but in accordance with the present invention the fuel supporting surfaceof the grate is inclined at an angle which is slightly less than theangle of rest of the fuel tobe burned thereon; that is to say, the fuel,resting on the grate surface will not normally travel down said surfaceby gravity alone, but :will travel down said surface as a bodyjifaassisted slightly by power or pressure applied thereto, or if the angleoil-inclination; is

slightly increased, as for example, by-the accumulation of material onthe upper portion of the grate, the superposed material will travel bygravity and again restore the angle by accumulation on the lower portionofthe grateftlius maintaininga body of 'fuel of substantially uniformthickness over the instrument ately over said grate;

. having an rocking lever is connected by-a link or con- .9-

, fuel feeding periods and they may be left j position indicated in Idischarge opening of the hopper is wide the-position The fuel of thegrate surface or plate H cause the Whole grate surface and forming abody which may be advanced bodily down the grate surface by pressureapplied to itsalp-' per or forward end. p

' At the forward end of the furnace and above the plane of the gratethere is provided a hopper E into which the fuel to be fed is dumped andfrom which it escapes through a discharge opening controlled by asegmental oscillatory valve or gate F the fuel supporting or controllingportion of which is in the form of :1 segment of a cylinder, as shown at7. When turned to the full lines inFig. 1, the

open and the valve or gate is ,in position to close an opening orpassageway G through which a bar or instrument may be introducedparallel withthe grate surface for manipulating the fuel on said surfaceshould the condition of the fire require such manipulation, or in case athorough cleaning of the fire is required. The passage is normallyclosed by a downwardly swinging door 9 adapted to be raised when the baror is introduced and under such conditions the gate or valve F is swungto indicated by the dotted line. dropping from the hopper E is receivedby a' fuel supporting surface or plate H which forms-an upwardcontinuation surface in the plane of said surfacc,'and working onthis-fuel receiving is-a reciprocatory pusher or feeder K, said'pusheror feeder K operating iinmediatelybelow the passage G and being adaptedto advance the fuel dropping from the hopper in a direction which isparallel to the surface of the grate and immedithere being no break inthe plane of movement such'as would fuel to pile up or interfere withits movement as a body down the entire' supporting surface. Foroperating the pusher or feeder K a simple mechanism well-adapted forhandling or operating the pushers ofa whole battery of furnaces consistsof a rock shaft L arm I connected withthe pusher by a link 3 and asecond arm m connecteda link m with a rocking lever m Thenecting rod mwith an eccentric strap sur roundin aneccentric m By th s mechanism thepushers the in continuous operation. and the fuel supplied to themcontrolled by the manipulation of the valves or ates F.

At the-lower end 0 the grate and between said end and the wall A thereis arranged a section preferablyjournaled to on a rotary drive segmentalsections-n, the movement of the rocking section being controlled by anoperating bar or link P extending out to the front: ofthe furnace :andatits inner end jointed to a downwardly extending arm 70 on the rockingsection.

I For cooperation with the rearwardly extending fuel supporting anddumping portions of the rocking section, the, wall A is provided with asegmental downwardly extending apron Q usually mounted on or built intothe wall by means of a rearwardly extending top flange or portion Q, andin order to overcome the injurious effects due to the growing of themetal or its expansion and contraction, the apron itself is sub-di videdinto relatively short sections by slots" or openings g, (see Fig. 2)which slots or openings extend back into thetop flange Q" a suificientdistance to accomplish the desired end and at the same time leave therear portion of the flange Qfintegral so that the whole apron may bepositioned and held in proper relation to the wall and rocking section.To give additional strength the sub divided portions of the apron'may'beconnected with the top portion or flange Q'by bracket webs 0 e Therocking section and the. "apron are so proportioned and arranged thatthe rocking sections may distance before ,therearwardly extendingportions it pass beyond the lower edge of the apron when the segmentalportions n extend a considerable. distance above the plane of 1B 0 beoscillated a considerable the surface of the' grate, whereby withoutdumping the fuel, ashes,

etc., the portion of the-mass of fuel at the lower end (Tf'the grate maybe worked rearwardlyand upwardly so as to accumulate a considerable bodyabove the rocking section, where it is in position,

for the fuel particlesnottheretofore consumedgto be consumed." Airisadmitted o'win to the factthat the fuel passing down off 0 the gratewillibe'brokenup and elevated above the general-plane of the fuel on Ithe grate, and by movement'of the rocking section it may be dumped intothe-gash pit for subsequent removal; i it The breaking .up and shi'ngback of the friehpassing down off 0 the grate is an important ste in theoperation'of the mechanism, for, maybe fed without dumping the grate,and the complete consumptionof the fuel particles. is practicallyassured beforethe necessity for dumping the same into the ash pit arisesFurthermore whenthe dumping takes place the body of fuel on the gratefurther or moreextended y such manipulation fresh fuel is held byresting against the peripheries of the segmental projections.

In the operation of the stoking mechanism, the fuel fed from the hopperand advanced by the pusher progresses over the grate surface in a layerwhich is successively subjected to the various stages of distillation,coking and consumption progressively, each stage taking place in aportion of the combustion chamber best calculated for the effectivecombination of the various elements to secure perfect combustion; thatis to say, the gaseous elements driven off during the distillationperiod are at the top of the combustion chamber where they areimmediately commingled with highly heated air entering through the archand the solid fuel particles remaining in the fuel travel down over thegrate and are supplied with air from the ash pit in, the usual waythrough the openings in the grate, and through the openings in therocking section at the lower end of the grate.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Let ters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a stoking mechanism for furnaces, the combination with thecombustion chamber, grate mounted in an inclined position therein meansfor supplying fuel to and advancing the same down over the surface ofthe grate and a fixed rear wall for arresting the progress of the fuelat the lower end of'the grate, of a rocking section at the lower end ofthe grate having a segmental extension forwardly of its axis and anormally substantially horizontal dumping 8X7 tension in rear of itsaxis extending into proximity to the rear wall, and means whereby saidrocking section may be oscillated to move the segmental extensionupwardlv, break up the fuel advanced onto the rocking section from thegrate and pile the fuel against the rear wall Without dropping the sameinto the ash pit or by a further movement of said rocking sectiondischarge such material into the ash pit.

2. In a stoking mechanism for furnaces, the combination with an inclinedgrate and means for supplying fuel to and advancing the same down overthe surface of said grate, of a reciprocatory rocking section forreceiving the material discharged from the grate, and a fixed apronadapted to cooperate with said rocking section having a curved face,said rocking section being provided with an upwardly extending forwardportion and a rearwardly substantially flat portion whereby when theforward portion projects upwardly above the plane of the grate surface,the lower rearward portion does not immediately dump the fuel.

3. In a stoking mechanism for furnaces, the combination with a gratemounted in an inclined position with means for supplying fuel to andadvancing the same down over section may be oscillated to move thesegmental projection above the plane of the surface of the grate andpile the fuel and ashes in proximity to the rear wall without permittingmaterial to be discharged past the rearwardly extending projection.

4. In a stoking mechanism such as described, the combination with theinclined grate, means for supplying fuel to and advancing the same downover the surface of the grate and a rocking section onto which thematerial passes from the grate, said rocking section having an upwardlyextending forward portion and a substantially flat rearward portion, ofa fixed apron having a fuel supporting curved face concentric to the arcof movement of the rearward portion of the rocking section, said apronhaving vertical slots in its face whereby the growth of the metal iscompensated for.

5. In a stoking mechanism such as described, the combination with theinclined grate, means for supplying fuel to and ad- WILLIAM MoCLAVE.

Witnesses:

ALEXANDER S. STEUART,

THOMAS DURANT.

